No end for bushfire trauma

Jo Huggins the manager of Relationships Australia in Traralgon, one of the lead agencies offering support to bushfire survivors locally, says new faces are showing up almost four years after the devastating event.

"We're (still) seeing people that came to us after the fires, then rebuilt, then coming back to check in and receive support to work through the trauma they've experienced," Ms Huggins says.

"We're also seeing new people - people that we've never seen before.

"We had a referral last week that was somebody who hadn't been ready."

Ms Huggins says bushfire survivors may have put their emotional needs on the backburner in an effort to address practical issues like re-establishing their home.

"They (emotions) can come out years later when a very small incident triggers memories or makes people feel unsettle," she says.

"Even the warm weather today can be a trigger for some people."

Relationships Australia will next week host a dinner in Traralgon for people affected by the fires in Gippsland and those who have moved to the area from bushfire communities in other parts of the state.

Ms Huggins says it is yet another opportunity for people to share their story in a relaxed setting.

Fifty people have already booked to attend, an indication that many are still eager to receive support from counselling agencies, according to Ms Huggins.

For further information about the dinner on Wednesday 7 November, contact Relationships Australia in Traralgon.